Method and means for connecting electrical conductors to railroad rails

ABSTRACT

A conductor is electrically connected to a railroad rail by positioning a conductive adapter between an explosive charge and the rail. The relative locations of the adapter, charge, and rail are such that the detonation of a charge welds the adapter to the rail. The charge is then detonated. The conductor is either prejoined to the adapter before the positioning, or else is placed between a portion of the adapter and the rail before detonation. Thus, the conductor is ultimately joined to the adapter.

United States Patent Hofer Au 19, 1975 [54] METHOD AND MEANS FORCONNECTING 2,316,112 4/1943 Temple, Jr. 29/421 E X ELECTRICAL o3,377,010 4/1968 Suzuki 6t a1. 228/3 3,380,908 4/1968 Ono et a1. 204/290RAILROAD RAILS 3,449,819 6/1969 Blank 29/470.9 [75] Inventor: PeterHofer, l-lofen, Switzerland 3,542,276 /1 7 James 2 2l E X 3,624,23711/1971 Persson 29/470.1 X 1 Asslgneei Georg FlscherAktlengesellsfihaft, 3,726,460 4 1973 Lemonds et a1. 238/1405 xschaffliausen, Switzerland [22] Filed: Oct. 4, 1972 PrimaryExaminerRona1d .1. Shore Attorney, Agent, or FirmToren, McGeady and [21]Appl. No. 294,922 Stanger [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57]ABSTRACT Oct. 8, 1971 Switzerland 14701/71 A Conductor is electricallyconnected to a railroad rail by positioning a conductive adapter betweenan explo- '3 [52] 228/107 'g 7 sive charge and the rail. The relativelocations of the Int Cl 2 k 21/60 adapter, charge, and rail are suchthat the detonation of a charge welds the adapter to the rail. Thecharge is [58] Field of Search 29/421 4701 then detonated. The conductoris either prejoined to [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS1,286,381 12/1918 Mead 29/421 E 2,050,047 8/1936 Febrey 29/421 E theadapter before the positioning, or else is placed between a portion ofthe adapter and the rail before detonation. Thus, the conductor isultimately joined to the adapter.

22 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 1 9 975 pm 1 BF 2 Hg] Fig.2

PATENTEDA E 3,899,825

SLiZU 2 0F 2 Fig.3 Fig.4

9 1 1 9 1 y ZWJQ METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORSTO RAILROAD RAILS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates tomethods and means for connecting electrical conductors, such as railconnectors and ground wires, to railroad rails.

The use of electric welding to connect rail connectors or ground wiresto rails of a railroad tract is well known. However, considerable careand timeconsuming preparations are required to produce electric weldswhose dimensions and locations lie within the ranges usually specifiedby the railroad. Moreover, it is comparatively difficult to transportthe electric welding equipment and the accessories required to produce aseries of welds along a railroad track.

An object of the invention is to improve methods and means forconnecting electrical conductors to rails of a railroad.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the before-mentioneddisadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to connect electrical conductors torailroad rails so that the conductors make reliable contacts which aresecure at their positions, but which is also quick and simple.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a feature of the invention, thebeforementioned objects are obtained, in whole or in part, bypositioning conductive means, which include the conductor to beconnected between the rail and an explosive charge, while spacing thecharge and the conductive means so that the detonation of the chargewill weld the conductive means to the rail, and detonating the explosivecharge.

According to another feature of the invention, the conductive meansincludes an adapter which is welded to the rail by the explosion of thecharge.

According to another feature of the invention, at least the adapter ofthe conductive means is inserted at a predetermined distance from therail into a holder, and the holder includes a positioning strap thatmounts the holder to the rail at a predetermined position. The strap issuch that the position between the charge and the conductive means aswell as the rail provides the required welding distances from the pointto which the conductor is to be welded on the rail.

These and other features of the invention are pointed out in the claims.Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from thefollowing detailed description when read in light of the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional end view of a rail and a deviceembodying features of the invention ready to be detonated.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus in FIG. 1 and further includes aportion of another rail abutting the rail in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a simplified view of another arrangement, similar to that inFIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating another embodiment of the invention andshowing the relationship just prior to detonation.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the embodiment in FIG. 3 after theexplosive charge has been detonated.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of still another arrangement, showing only theessential portions, also embodying features of the invention, andillustrating the relationship prior to detonation of the explosivecharge.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 showing the conditions afterdetonation of the explosive charge.

FIG. 7 illustrates, in simplified form, still another arrangementembodying features of the invention, and illustrating the conditionsjust prior to detonation of the explosive charge; and

FIG. 8 is a simplified drawing of the arrangement in FIG. 7 afterdetonation of the explosive charge.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, an electrical conductor1 is to be electrically connected to a rail 3. In FIG. 2, which is aplan view of the cross-sectional end view in FIG. 1, the conductor 1 isalready connected to the left-hand rail 3 through an adapter 2 while theconductor is still to be connected through another adapter 2 to theright-hand rail 3. The adapters 2 tightly embrace the ends of theconductor 1. Accoding to one embodiment of the invention, the adapters 2are pre-swaged or pre-soldered to the end of the conductor. According toanother embodiment of the invention, the adapters 2 simply grasp theends of the conductor 1 tightly.

As shown in FIG. 1, the adapter 2 is spaced from the side of the rail 3by a distance 4. In FIGS. 1 and 2, an explosive charge 5 is part of aconductor-connecting device 6 which a strap holder 7 mounts on the rail3. A foam plastic housing 12, forming part of the device 6, carries amass of sand 13 which surrounds the explosive charge 5. The electricalconductor 1 together with its adapter 2 projects into the housing 12through a recess 14 so as to rest against the explosive charge 5 withinthe housing and to be spaced the predetermined distance 4 from the rail3.

The strap holder 7 secured to the device 6 is hookshaped to grip therail head 19 of the rail 3. The strap holder 7 causes the housing 12 tomake contact with the rail 3 and causes the device 6 to form a compactexplosive unit on the rail 3.

FIG. 2 is divided into a portion A on the left-hand side where theconductor 1 has already been connected to the rail 3 and a portion Bwhere the conductor 1 has not yet been connected to the rail 3. FIG. 1and part B of FIG. 2 show the device 6 in a condition ready fordetonation with a detonator cap 15 and a fuse 16 projecting into thehousing 12. After the explosive charge 5 is detonated the adapter 2 isconnected to the rail 3 in a predetermined position a distance 8 fromthe butt 17 of the right-hand rail and a distance 8 from the runningsurface 18 of the rail. The final position corresponds to the positionshown in part A of FIG. 2.

A strap stop 22 extending from the holder 7 or attached to the device 6engages the rail butt 17 to establish correct positioning of the devicerelative to the butt 17 of the rail 3. According to one embodiment ofthe invention, the holder 7 includes a plurality of pennanent magnetsfor attachment to the rail 3.

In operation, the conductor connecting device 6 with its explosivecharge 5 is mounted on the rail head 19 of the rail 3 by means of theholder 7. The device 6 is placed on the rail head so that the holder 7seats the device 6 directly next to the rail head end and the stop 22engages the butt 17. Before or after the device 6 is mounted on the rail3, the conductor 1 with its adapter 2 is inserted into the housing 12through the recess 14. This positions the charge and the conductor aswell as the adapter relative to the rail once the device 6 is mounted.After mounting, the fuse and detonator are used to detonate the chargewithin its sand surroundings. Explosion of the charge 5 drives theconductor and its adapter against the side of the rail head 19 at theposition designated by the distances 8 and 8. The force of the explosionwelds the adapter 2 to the rail 3. When both ends of the conductor 1have been welded to the rails 3 in parts A and B of FIG. 2 the rails 3are electrically connected on a permanent basis.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the explosive charge weldsthe conductor 1 itself to the adapter 2. According to another embodimentof the invention, as mentioned above, the conductor 1 is presoldered orjoined by the swaging to the adapter 2. According to yet anotherembodiment of the invention, the adapter 2 embraces the conductor 1 withsufficient tightness so that the deformation of the adapter 2 by theexplosion causes a sufficiently tight connection. However, it would beexpected that in most cases, the deformation of the adapter 2 caused bythe explosion would weld or otherwise bond the conductor 1 to theadapter 2.

FIGS. 3 to 8 are simplified representations of three modifications ofthe adapter. FIGS. 3, 5, and 7 show the modifications of the adapterprior to the explosion, and FIGS. 4, 6, and 8 show these modifiedadapters after the explosion.

In FIG. 3, the adapter is in the form of a connector lug 9 whichreceives a conductor end 20 of the conductor l. A plate 21 forming anintegral part of the connector lug 9 is spaced a distance 4 from therail 3 and adjacent to the explosive charge 5. The explosion deforms theconnector lug 9 as shown in FIG. 4. The explosion welds the lug 9 to therail 3 by means of the plate 21.

In FIG. 5, an adapter in the form of an omega-shaped clip 10 surroundsthe end of the conductor 1. The clip 10 is again mounted a distance 4from the rail 3 and adjacent a charge 5. Explosion of the charge 5drives the conductor end 20 and the adapter clip 10 into the positionshown in FIG. 6. It welds the clip 10 to the rail 3 and the adapter 10to the conductor end 20.

In FIG. 7 the explosive charge 5 adjacent a plastically deformable strip1] drives the strip. The initial position of the strip 11 is thepredetermined distance 4 from the rail 3. The conductor end 20 ispositioned between the strip 11 and the rail 3. As shown in FIG. 8,explosion of the charge 5 deforms the strip 11 as well as the conductorend 20.

As mentioned before the adapter 2 and the conductor end 20 may be joinedtogether prior to the explo sion, by such means as swaging or soldering.On the other hand, the connection between the conductor end 20 and theadapter 2 may come about as a consequence of the explosion.

It will be recognized that in FIGS. 3 to 8 various details have beenleft out for the purpose of clarifying the embodiments. Only the mostimportant aspects for illustrating these embodiments have been shown.

The invention has a number of inherent advantages. The compact design ofthe device assures correct positioning of the point of contact of theelectrical conductor with the rail. The ease with which the device canbe operated allows use of unskilled operators. By virtue of theinvention it is unnecessary to make time-consuming preparations and totransport bulky and heavy machinery. It is also possible to detonate amultiplicity of the devices at one time.

The manner of welding the adapter or conductor to the rail may beconveniently called explosion welding.

In FIGS. 3 to 8 the charge 5 also forms part of a device 6 with ahousing 12 and a mass of sand 13. Holder 7 and stop 22 are also used butnot shown in these Figures.

While embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, itwill be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention may beembodied otherwise without departing from its spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of aconductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carryingmeans having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and asecond region disposed in spaced relation to the first region forreceiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracingsaid regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to therail such that the second region is disposed between the first regionand the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weldthe adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld theconductor to the adaptor, said carrying means including a housing, saidhousing being formed of foam plastic.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising an explosive chargereceived in the first region.

3. An apparatus as in claim I, in which the second region includes arecess extending from a surface of the holding means into the interiorthereof.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the second region of saidcarrying means positions the conductive adapter between the first regionand the conductor, and wherein the conductive adaptor extends beyond thecross-sectional dimensions of the conductor so that when an explosivecharge in the first region can deform the adaptor around the conductorand press at least a portion of the adaptor against the rail.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said adaptor is sufficiently longand extends sufficiently beyond the cross-sectional dimension of theconductor so that an explosive charge in the first region can wrap theadaptor around the conductor and press two ends of the adaptor againstthe rail.

6. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said housing being adapted to beplaced in contiguous relationship with the rail, said housing formingwithin its interior the first and second regions.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said conductive adaptor forms anomega-shaped clip surrounding the conductor.

8. Apparatus for making a lmeans for mutual electrical connection of aconductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carryingmeans having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and asecond region disposed in spaced relation to the first region forreceiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracingsaid regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to therail such that the second region is disposed between the first regionand for detonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to therail and to simultaneously explosively weld the conductor to theadaptor, the conductor to the adaptor, said carrying means including amass of sand surrounding said charge and a housing holding said mass ofsand and said charge.

9. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of aconductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carryingmeans having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and asecond region disposed in spaced relation to the first region forreceiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracingsaid regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to therail such that the second region is disposed between the first regionand the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weldthe adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld theconductor to the adaptor said positioning means including a permanentmagnet.

10. A method of making a permanent electrical connection between aconductor and a railroad rail which comprises the steps of positioningboth the conductor and a conductive adaptor between the rail and anexplosive charge, and thereafter detonating the charge to explosivelyweld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld theconductor to the adaptor, said adaptor forming an omega-shaped clipsurrounding the conductor.

11. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of aconductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carryingmeans having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and asecond region disposed in spaced relation to the first region forreceiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracingsaid regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to therail such that the second region is disposed between the first regionand the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weldthe adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld theconductor to the adaptor said holder means including a housing of foamplastic.

12. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of aconductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carryingmeans hav ing a first region for receiving an explosive charge and asecond region disposed in spaced relation to the first region forreceiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracingsaid regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to therail such that the second region is disposed between the first regionand the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weldthe adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld theconductor to the adaptor, said carrying means including a mass of sandsurrounding said charge and a housing for holding said mass of sand.

13. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of aconductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carryingmeans having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and asecond region disposed in spaced relation to the first region forreceiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracingsaid regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to therail such that the second region is disposed between the first regionand the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weldthe adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld theconductor to the adaptor, said positioning means including a pluralityof permanent magnets.

14. A method of making a permanent electrical connection between aconductor and a railroad rail which comprises the steps of positioningboth the conductor and a conductive adaptor between the rail and anexplosive charge, and thereafter detonating the charge to explosivelyweld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively Weld theconductor to the adaptor, the adaptor comprising a plate, and thepositioning step comprising disposing the conductor between the plateand the rail and disposing the charge adjacent the plate.

15. The method of making a permanent electrical connection between arail and a stranded flexible conductor, which comprises the steps ofpositioning a portion of the conductor between an explosive charge andthe rail, positioning an integral conductive adaptor between theexplosive charge and the rail so that at least a portion of theconductive adaptor extends between the explosive charge and theconductor and another part of the conductive adaptor extends beyond thecross-sectional dimension of the conductor between the explosive chargeand the rail, deforming the conductive adaptor by moving it against boththe conductor and the rail and welding the adaptor to the rail and theconductor, said deforming step including detonating the charge.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein said adaptor is in the shape of aconnector lug.

17. A method as in claim 15, wherein the adaptor is in the shape of aplastically deformable metal strip.

18. The method as in claim 15, further comprising the step of detachablyassembling the adaptor and the conductor prior to the positioning step.

19. The method as in claim 15, wherein the step of positioning both theconductor and the conductive adaptor between the rail and an explosivecharge includes spacing the conductive adaptor from the rail so that atleast a portion of the conductive adaptor is out of contact with therail and must travel to the rail during the detonation and strike therail.

20. The method as in claim 15, wherein said conductive adaptor ispositioned so that at least a portion of the conductive adaptor which ismoved against the rail is spaced from the rail to require the adaptor tostrike the rail.

21. The method as in claim 15, wherein the step of deforming includesembracing the conductor with the adaptor while pressing at least aportion of the adaptor against the rail.

22. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of aconductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor carryingmeans having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and asecond region disposed in spaced relation to the first region forreceiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracingsaid regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to therail such that the second region is disposed between the first regionand the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weldthe adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld theconductor to the adaptor, said second region of said carrying meanspositioning the conductive adaptor between the first region and theconductor, the conductive adaptor extending beyond the cross-sectionaldimensions of the conductor so that when an explosive charge in thefirst region can deform the adaptor around the conductor and press atleast a portion of the adaptor against the rail said carrying meansspacing the adaptor in noncontiguous relationship with the rail so thatthe explosive charge must move the adaptor into contiguity with therail.

1. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of aconductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carryingmeans having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and asecond region disposed in spaced relation to the first region forreceiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracingsaid regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to therail such that the second region is disposed between the first regionand the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weldthe adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld theconductor to the adaptor, said carrying means including a housing, saidhousing being formed of foam plastic.
 2. An apparatus as in claim 1,further comprising an explosive charge received in the first region. 3.An apparatus as in claim 1, in which the second region includes a recessextending from a surface of the holding means into the interior thereof.4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the second region of saidcarrying means positions the conductive adapter between the first regionand the conductor, and wherein the conductive adaptor extends beyond thecross-sectional dimensions of the conductor so that when an explosivecharge in the first region can deform the adaptor around the conductorand press at least a portion of the adaptor against the rail.
 5. Anapparatus as in claim 4, wherein said adaptor is sufficiently long andextends sufficiently beyond the cross-sectional dimension of theconductor so that an explosive charge in the first region can wrap theadaptor around the conductor and press two ends of the adaptor againstthe rail.
 6. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said housing beingadapted to be placed in contiguous relationship with the rail, saidhousing forming within its interior the first and second regions.
 7. Anapparatus as in claim 1, wherein said conductive adaptor forms anomega-shaped clip surrounding the conductor.
 8. Apparatus for making a1means for mutual electrical connection of a conductor and a railroadrail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carrying means having a firstregion for receiving an explosive charge and a second region disposed inspaced relation to the first region for receiving the conductor and theadaptor, said carrying means embracing said regions, means forpositioning the carrying means relative to the rail such that the secondregion is disposed between the first region and for detonating thecharge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneouslyexplosively weld the conductor to the adaptor, the conductor to theadaptor, said carrying means including a mass of sand surrounding saidcharge and a housing holding said mass of sand and said charge. 9.Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of aconductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carryingmeans having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and asecond region disposed in spaced relation to the first region forreceiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracingsaid regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to therail such that the second region is disposed between the first regionand the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weldthe adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld theconductor to the adaptor said positioning means including a permanentmagnet.
 10. A method of making a permanent electrical connection betweena conductor and a railroad rail which comprises the steps of positioningboth the conductor and a conductive adaptor between the rail and anexplosive charge, and thereafter detonating the charge to explosivelyweld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld theconductor to the adaptor, said adaptor forming an omega-shaped clipsurrounding the conductor.
 11. Apparatus for making a permaNent mutualelectrical connection of a conductor and a railroad rail, comprising aconductive adaptor, carrying means having a first region for receivingan explosive charge and a second region disposed in spaced relation tothe first region for receiving the conductor and the adaptor, saidcarrying means embracing said regions, means for positioning thecarrying means relative to the rail such that the second region isdisposed between the first region and the rail, and means for detonatingthe charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and tosimultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor said holdermeans including a housing of foam plastic.
 12. Apparatus for making apermanent mutual electrical connection of a conductor and a railroadrail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carrying means having a firstregion for receiving an explosive charge and a second region disposed inspaced relation to the first region for receiving the conductor and theadaptor, said carrying means embracing said regions, means forpositioning the carrying means relative to the rail such that the secondregion is disposed between the first region and the rail, and means fordetonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and tosimultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor, saidcarrying means including a mass of sand surrounding said charge and ahousing for holding said mass of sand.
 13. Apparatus for making apermanent mutual electrical connection of a conductor and a railroadrail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carrying means having a firstregion for receiving an explosive charge and a second region disposed inspaced relation to the first region for receiving the conductor and theadaptor, said carrying means embracing said regions, means forpositioning the carrying means relative to the rail such that the secondregion is disposed between the first region and the rail, and means fordetonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and tosimultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor, saidpositioning means including a plurality of permanent magnets.
 14. Amethod of making a permanent electrical connection between a conductorand a railroad rail which comprises the steps of positioning both theconductor and a conductive adaptor between the rail and an explosivecharge, and thereafter detonating the charge to explosively weld theadaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld the conductorto the adaptor, the adaptor comprising a plate, and the positioning stepcomprising disposing the conductor between the plate and the rail anddisposing the charge adjacent the plate.
 15. The method of making apermanent electrical connection between a rail and a stranded flexibleconductor, which comprises the steps of positioning a portion of theconductor between an explosive charge and the rail, positioning anintegral conductive adaptor between the explosive charge and the rail sothat at least a portion of the conductive adaptor extends between theexplosive charge and the conductor and another part of the conductiveadaptor extends beyond the cross-sectional dimension of the conductorbetween the explosive charge and the rail, deforming the conductiveadaptor by moving it against both the conductor and the rail and weldingthe adaptor to the rail and the conductor, said deforming step includingdetonating the charge.
 16. A method as in claim 15, wherein said adaptoris in the shape of a connector lug.
 17. A method as in claim 15, whereinthe adaptor is in the shape of a plastically deformable metal strip. 18.The method as in claim 15, further comprising the step of detachablyassembling the adaptor and the conductor prior to the positioning step.19. The method as in claim 15, wherein the step of positioning both theconductor and the conductive adaptor between the rail and an explosivecharge includes spacing the conductive adaptor from the rail so that atleast a portion of the conductive adaptor is out of contact with therail and must travel to the rail during the detonation and strike therail.
 20. The method as in claim 15, wherein said conductive adaptor ispositioned so that at least a portion of the conductive adaptor which ismoved against the rail is spaced from the rail to require the adaptor tostrike the rail.
 21. The method as in claim 15, wherein the step ofdeforming includes embracing the conductor with the adaptor whilepressing at least a portion of the adaptor against the rail. 22.Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of aconductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor carryingmeans having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and asecond region disposed in spaced relation to the first region forreceiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracingsaid regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to therail such that the second region is disposed between the first regionand the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weldthe adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld theconductor to the adaptor, said second region of said carrying meanspositioning the conductive adaptor between the first region and theconductor, the conductive adaptor extending beyond the cross-sectionaldimensions of the conductor so that when an explosive charge in thefirst region can deform the adaptor around the conductor and press atleast a portion of the adaptor against the rail said carrying meansspacing the adaptor in noncontiguous relationship with the rail so thatthe explosive charge must move the adaptor into contiguity with therail.